Report Claims Apple Will Introduce Smart Home System at Next Week's WWDC

While most Apple pundits have been focused on what Cupertino might be changing with this year's versions of OS X and iOS, a new report claims the iPhone maker plans to make a full-frontal assault on the home at WWDC 2014.The Financial Times reported Monday that Apple plans to debut a "smart home" system during next week's Worldwide Developer Conference in San Francisco, hoping to head rivals Google and Samsung off at the pass.

The so-called "Jetsons-style home automation" would allow the iPhone to become a remote control for lighting as well as household appliances and security systems, and Apple patent filings from last November would appear to corroborate such plans.

"Apple’s integrated system will make it easier to set up and control new 'smart home' devices," the report elaborated. "For example, a home’s lights might automatically come on when the owner enters the house, using their iPhone to wirelessly signal their arrival."

While an Apple spokesperson declined to comment on such plans, an FT source "familiar with Apple's plans" claims the company intends to partner with "a select group" of device makers, whose hardware would be certified to work with Cupertino's iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad-based iOS software.

The licensing would apparently work similarly to Apple's existing "Made for iPhone" program, which allows accessory makers to receive Cupertino's blessing — and very likely, a prominent place on the shelves at Apple retail stores worldwide.

Apple is supposedly working to make its home automation system both simple to use and more secure than competing options, which include Google-owned Nest thermostats, Dropcam wireless cameras, Philips Hue lightbulbs and Belkin WeMo switches, all of which can be controlled by the iPhone and are sold in Apple retail stores.